• Bikes for Sale
  • News
  • Buyer’s guide
    • Buy a Motorcycle
    • First Rides & Reviews
    • Specs, Prices & Others
  • Lifestyle
    • Concepts & Custom
    • Electric Motorcycles
    • Events
    • Motorsport
    • Tips & Stories
    • Travel
  • Locals
imotorbike logo
  • Bikes for Sale
  • News
  • Buyer’s guide
    • Buy a Motorcycle
    • First Rides & Reviews
    • Specs, Prices & Others
  • Lifestyle
    • Concepts & Custom
    • Electric Motorcycles
    • Events
    • Motorsport
    • Tips & Stories
    • Travel
  • Locals
  • Facebook

  • Instagram

  • X (Twitter)

  • YouTube

  • LinkedIn

  • RSS

Motorsport

Indian Motorcycle to go hill-climbing with John Koester

Indian Motorcycle to go hill-climbing with John Koester
Michelle Liew
August 28, 2020

Ready for the fruits of Indian Motorcycle and John Koester’s partnership?

Indian Motorcycle

Indian Motorcycle enters new AMA hill climb twin class with John Koester | Photo credits: Cycle World

Just recently, Indian Motorcycle made an announcement that it will be supporting hill climb racer on a modified FTR750 in an all-new AMA twins class. This would be the first time the company is making its official entrance to the sport since 1939.

The twins class of the American Flat Track has mainly been dominated by Harley-Davidson for decades. Much likely a predictable race, Indian is here to spice things up to provide some challenge to Harley. In 2016, fans showed up to watch some real competition with Indian’s inclusion. The larger crowds have paved way to the new locations for the flat track races and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is eager to do the same for hill climbing.

Photo credits: Cycle World

AMA’s representatives have reached out to Indian’s racing department and made the offer. At first, the company was a little weary but the deal was sealed when AMA paired Indian up with five-time national champion John”Flying” Koester. Currently 26 years old, Koester has been a professional hill climber with spectacular results within a decade.

According to the new rules in the twin class, the bikes are to run a knobby tire. This is as opposed to a paddle-stye tire often seen in hill climbing. “They were pushing us toward the FTR 1200. But with having only a knobby tire, it’s similar to flat track. At some point you just overpower the tire,” says Gary Gray, Indian Motorcycle’s vice president of Racing, Technology, and Service, as quoted from Cycle World.

Indian made the decision to go with the light-weight FTR750 but it would need lots of modification in both chassis and engine to go hill-climbing.

Photo credits: Cycle World

“We made some mods to the heads, pistons, and cylinders just to make some more horsepower than we do in flat track. We worked with Rekluse on locking up the clutch. This is because there definitely will be more traction with that knobby tire and long swingarm. And then S&S on the exhaust and tuning.”

The chassis was up to Koester and his dad, Gordy. The two worked on the suspension setup and tuned it into a motocross bike. The Koesters then installed a new motocross seat, a custom rear subframe and dirt bike plastic. John fabricated the swingarm and adapted it to work on the FTR750. The bike weights 310 pounds and the estimated output of the bike is at 94hp. “It has a really broad power range, which was proven in flat track. It comes out of corners hard, it goes down the straightaway fast—which is really what you need in hill climb,” says Koester.

Photo credits: Cycle World

Related Itemsamaama twin classfeaturedhill climbindianindian motorcyclejohn koesternewnewstwin class
To read the full story
login with google
login with facebook
or
Create an account for free
This won't cost you.
by clicking this button you agree to iMotorbike's visitor agreement
Already have an account? Sign in here
Click here to get notified on every new article
Motorsport
August 28, 2020
Michelle Liew

An avid fan of motorsports bringing you top-notch content from the two-wheeler world! Gear up for the latest updates and news with top speed delivery

Related Itemsamaama twin classfeaturedhill climbindianindian motorcyclejohn koesternewnewstwin class

More in Motorsport

Yamaha Bids Farewell to Calvin Vlaanderen After Five Seasons

Michelle LiewOctober 30, 2025
Read More

Jorge Martin to Miss Portuguese Grand Prix Amid Ongoing Injury Recovery

Hazique ZairillOctober 28, 2025
Read More

Moto2: Jake Dixon Wins in Sepang

Hazique ZairillOctober 28, 2025
Read More

Swiss Moto3 Rider Noah Dettwiler in Critical but Stable Condition After Sepang Crash

Hazique ZairillOctober 28, 2025
Read More

Yamaha V4-Powered Prototype Completes Second Full-Length MotoGP Race at Sepang

Amzar HazeeqOctober 27, 2025
Read More

Shell Advance Unveils All-New Flagship Motorcycle Lubricant at MotoGP Malaysia 2025

Amzar HazeeqOctober 27, 2025
Read More

Hakim Danish Impresses with Fastest Lap at Malaysian GP Despite Early Retirement

Hazique ZairillOctober 27, 2025
Read More

Alex Marquez Claims Dominant Victory in Malaysian MotoGP

Hazique ZairillOctober 27, 2025
Read More

Double DNF for Honda HRC Castrol at Sepang

Michelle LiewOctober 25, 2025
Read More

Bagnaia Back with a Bang to Take Sepang Pole by 0.016s

Michelle LiewOctober 25, 2025
Read More

Arenas Targets Podium as Binder Prepares for Hot Sepang Battle

Michelle LiewOctober 25, 2025
Read More

Sepang Showdown: MotoGP Stars Gear Up for Malaysia 2025

Michelle LiewOctober 23, 2025
Read More
We want to buy your bike Join us on Telegram
Scroll for more
Tap

Join us on Facebook

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • 47th ASEAN Summit 2025: Major Road Closures, From 26 until 28 October 
    EventsOctober 15, 2025
  • WMOTO Unveils Cruiser AMT 125 and EZ125i for Malaysian Market
    Buyer's guideOctober 2, 2025
  • Sepang
    MotoGP 2026 Launch Event Relocated from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
    LifestyleOctober 3, 2025
  • KOVE Moto Officially Lands in Malaysia with the 800X GT and 450R
    Buyer's guideOctober 8, 2025
  • TVS Teases Apache RR450 Ahead of EICMA 2025
    NewsOctober 12, 2025
  • Modenas Unveils All-New Z15GT, Malaysia’s First Fully Developed Supermoped
    NewsOctober 27, 2025
  • Chigee AIO-6 LTE 4G Review: A Smart, Connected Display for Riders
    Buyer's guideOctober 6, 2025
  • Bridgestone Launches BATTLAX RS12 for Street and Track
    NewsOctober 31, 2025
  • Continental Unveils All-New TKC 802 Adventure Tyre
    NewsOctober 31, 2025
  • Cardo Systems Launches BEYOND Smart Helmets
    NewsOctober 30, 2025
  • Yamaha Bids Farewell to Calvin Vlaanderen After Five Seasons
    MotorsportOctober 30, 2025
  • Ducati Celebrates 100 Years of Passion and Innovation
    NewsOctober 29, 2025
  • Hakim Danish Fired Up for FIM JuniorGP Round 6 in Barcelona
    NewsOctober 29, 2025
  • Infinite Machine Debuts in Europe at EICMA 2025
    NewsOctober 28, 2025
  • MV Agusta Lucky Explorer Project 9.5: testing the Schiranna prototype - news.iNthacity: More Top Breaking News and Popular Stories To Stay Informed says:

    […] Michelle Liew […]

  • CFMOTO 450SR to enter Malaysia in March 2023 at RM29,300 - news.iNthacity: More Top Breaking News and Popular Stories To Stay Informed says:

    […] Michelle Liew […]

  • Suzuki V-Strom now available in Malaysia at RM81,900 - news.iNthacity: More Top Breaking News and Popular Stories To Stay Informed says:

    […] Michelle Liew […]

  • Colin says:

    I hope they make the Dax street legal. Love to…

  • Mohd Razi bin Rosli says:

    Adv 150cc

  • Nena Maxberry says:

    Just curious what they would retail for

  • Adam Kenny says:

    RM4159 for the front fork is it?

Categories

  • Buyer's guide
    • First Rides & Reviews
    • Specs, Prices & Others
  • cafe racer malaysia murah
  • Campaign
  • CSR Programme
  • Electric Motorcycles
  • Electric Motorcycles
  • Industry
  • Industry
  • Kedai Motor
  • Lifestyle
    • Concepts & Custom
    • Electric Motorcycles
    • Events
      • EICMa
    • Helmet
    • Motorsport
      • ARRC
      • CubPrix
      • EWC
      • Moto3
      • Motocross
      • MSBK
      • WSBK
    • Tips & Stories
    • Travel
  • Moto2
  • Motor Murah
  • News
    • Locals
    • MotoGP
    • Scoop
  • Review
  • Scoop
  • Scoop
  • SEO
  • Suzuka 8 Hours
  • Tips & Tricks

Corporate

About Us
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Disclosure Policy
Contact Us
SUBSCRIBE NOW!

2024 iMotorbike World Sdn. Bhd.(1205246-M). All rights reserved.

Money Talks : 2020 MotoGP riders and their salaries
iM Cubaholic Ep.17: Deus turns Honda X-ADV into a 745cc Cub EZ 90
Nak Jual Beli Motor 😊 ?
WhatsApp
Hi iMotorbike 😊
Open chat